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T O P I C R E V I E W

ducati1098

I have just got hold of a couple of tapes labelled "Rosman," dated September 1968. I have pictures of the tapes along with the writing on them and supporting logs.

I have no idea what is on them as I don't yet have a reel to reel tape player! Anyone any idea what they might be?

ducati1098

I'm trying to get hold of a reel to reel tape to see whats on them, anyone have any idea what it might be?

Robert Pearlman

To quote Wikipedia:

Rosman Satellite Tracking Station was established by NASA in 1962. The site was part of the worldwide Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network and an integral communications link for the manned space programs Project Gemini and Project Apollo.

The reference to the satellite on the tapes' labels (196742A) and paperwork (UK-E) corresponds to Ariel 3, the first artificial satellite designed and constructed in the United Kingdom. Though launched in May 1967, it was active through the 1969 and so your tapes likely contain data from that satellite.

ducati1098

Robert thanks for sorting my posts out! And I really appreciate the information. I'm assuming it will be data on the tape but I'm hoping an old reel to reel tape player may play them!

Tim Collins

Great item. May not readily play back on standard tape deck. Appears to be multitrack with main data track probably formatted as pulse code modulation implemented with frequency shift keying. Typically would require bit synchronization and then decommutation of the data words. Feel free to contact me offline.

One Big Monkey

I was watching that sale too - decided that it was unlikely i would ever get the equipment on which to play it. LOL!